A person who contaminated candy with tranquilliser and provided them to children at a summer program in Leicestershire has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was detained after eight children and an older person fell ill at the location in mid-summer.
The elderly man, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he stood at the courthouse on Friday.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was charged with, which was involving a nine-year-old child.
The accused was kept in jail before a subsequent court date on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the judicial body.
She explained his victims were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer program which he ran.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the children, Mrs Prior said, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were settling down and ask them to consume candy "as fast as possible".
She informed the proceedings the defendant had played this game with the boys "for many years", and children had previously become sick the next day.
She stated the man had been able to explain this for many years as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepson had worries in summer 2025.
The prosecutor added: "This year his stepchild had concerns about what was going on, with valid cause.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained objects including infant oil, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his stepson notified the authorities about his worries.
She said the defendant proceeded to engage in the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not arrived by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the investigative body, previously told that it was reviewing law enforcement's management of the events.
Mrs Prior stated the minors were unable to walk properly due to their condition, so Ruben's stepson notified the law enforcement once more.
She said Ruben then engaged in the "treat game" in a area of five children.
